The Mirror: Vestia

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Asher nodded. "I'll be careful. Stay safe, and don't let anyone be too stupid." He'd head for the bridge.

Shane frowned and shook his head "I'm not dating anyone, but their magic is amazing." He said then shrugged "Besides, if I was dating it would be Ellie, I like her." He looked down at the floor a moment "I know we dragons can get a bit obsessed with learning about a people or magic that we haven't seen before. We focus on that learning until we have learned all we can then we move on with that knowledge to learn other things." Yeah, he had noticed that about him and the other dragons.

"wait.. you think they could heal the kid?" Matt looked at Shane thoughtfully.

Kaliyani frowned.

"What do you think?" Matt looked back to Kaliyani. "Can we trust you and the elders to protect the heir and try to keep him as sane and as just as possible?"

She nodded. "I serve Fate's chosen... I will see her will be done. Whatever that may be."

Matt nodded, looking grim. It wasn't easy to talk about killing his brother like this, even if he knew it wasn't really his brother.

"Yeah, I think so, with what they have been telling me and what I have seen since they were freed" Shane said then shrugged a little "We can ask and let them see anyway, maybe they can send someone if they don't want to go themselves."

Matt bowed his head to Kaliyani. "I have faith in you Kaliyani Vivek, I am certain you're destined for great things." He told her.

Kaliyani bowed her head back. "I hope that you are correct in that faith Kanis... I mean Matt." She smiled sadly.

Now what? He gulped. "V... vestia? Can you tell Esk?" His voice cracked and he lowered himself into a chair, shaking a little.

Kaliyani bowed her head and sat beside him.

"You want Web... gone?" Vestia asked to clarify.

Matt closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It's that... or he goes home and declares war. Unless anyone else has any bright ideas, I don't know what else we can really do."

"I'll tell Esk."
Vestia turned on the speaker near where Esk was. "Umm, Matt and Kaliyani request that you deal with Web... permanently."

Esk nodded grimly.

Web glared at him. "What does THAT mean?"

"I think you know."

"Then my brother wins? But... no, he can't win! I am the Ishvara! I am fate's chosen!" Web raged.

Esk sighed. "Yeah yeah. Shall we put it to the test then? If Fate has a greater plan for you, my gun will jam. If not, oh well, what do you care, you'll be dead. "

Web rattled the bars of the cell.

Esk drew his gun.

"Is he sure this is what he wants done?" Esk asked Vestia, mostly stalling for time. Shooting someone when they were a credible threat was one thing, but while they were locked in a cell and completely defenseless? He pushed down any sentimental feelings, this wasn't Web, it was a lunatic dictator. Still, he stalled.

"I'll double check."
To Matt Vestia asked, "Esk wants to know if you're sure you want this done."

James looked at Matt and Kaliyani quietly. Wow, this was some scary stuff.

Matt buried his face in his hands and nodded.

"He is unfit to lead... he... " He mumbled something in awkward Kevali. "He's lost his mind... "

Kaliyani looked sombre and said nothing, bowing her head.

"He's sure," Vestia said. Poor Matt looked miserable, but he definitely knew what he was doing.

Esk nodded.

Web stared at him blindly, glaring and looking as defiant as one in his position could.

Esk raised his gun. "It's nothing personal, just... politics."

Web growled. "You will burn." He spat.

"I know." Esk pulled the trigger.

The gun went off and the Ishvara fell, blood rapidly pooling beneath his head.

Esk realized he'd been holding his breath and let it out heavily, holstering his gun and indicating that a guard check the deed was done.

His face impassive, he just nodded when the guard confirmed it. His aim was true, the Ishvara was dead.

"Dispose of the body, remember, he was never here. Leave not a trace. " Esk told the guards and then walked out of the room without another word.

"It's done," Vestia told Matt and the others.

James tried to hide any sign of emotion on his face. He really wasn't sure what to think right now.

Matt sobbed.

Kaliyani nodded. "Then it is true... Fate abandoned him."

"W... where's Esk?" Matt asked, drying his eyes on his sleeve. He looked to James. "I have... I have to speak to my brother. You... find Starr and the... healers. Come up with a final plan, tie up the loose ends... I have to.. I have to.. go.. " He got up.

James nodded. He had no idea how he was supposed to be of any help at all, but how did you argue with someone after that? He forced a few words out after a few miserable, confused seconds, "All right Kaliyani, let's go find Starr and the healers then?"

Vestia told Matt where Esk was.

Matt went to find Esk.

Kaliyani obediently followed James and Shane.

---

Matt pulled a bottle of wine from pocket space and handed it to Esk as he approached. "Hey..."

Esk took the bottle and stared impassively at Matt. "Come to check up on me?" He spoke flatly.

"Well yeah.. it's kinda my thing right?"

Esk nodded. "It's funny, for so long we've been playing one another's roles. About time the universe righted itself." He shrugged.

"What do you mean?" matt was lost.

Esk opened the bottle and swigged it. "When we were kids you were the one who made sure everyone was okay, talked to them, mended their broken minds or whatever... and I cleaned up the mess they made. Nowadays? You're the janitor and i've been wandering around talking Kay out of stupid shit and trying to help you hold your head together. " He shook his head. "I don't envy your job Matt, i'd kinda like to stop doing it now."

Matt forced a grim smile. "Yeah, you're way too mean to be a Councillor anyway."

"Exactly." Esk agreed. He hesitated, then asked in that usual detached way of his. "Are you alright?"

Matt sighed. "Not really. "

"Want to get drunk and not talk about it?"

"You know... that sounds really good." Matt nodded. "Thanks man, maybe you're not so bad at my job after all."

"Oh please, I don't ever want to be you. "

"You're a better janitor than me anyway." Matt told him.

"Only because you're quite possibly the worst janitor who's ever existed." Esk informed him cooly. "I think I prefer being a soldier..."

"I thought you hated the army?"

"I hated the Satare army. But I dunno, there's a lot to be said for taking orders and not having to think."

"ew."

"I find it oddly liberating." Esk admitted.

"you're a weird guy brother. "

"I know."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Esk shrugged. "I'm used to death Matt, and that wasn't our brother. He was just a nutty dictator who needed to be deposed."

"look at you with the big words!"

"Fuck off."

Matt sighed. "Sorry. I just... thank you. I never say it enough to you. Esk, thank you, for doing all the crap the rest of us just can't bring ourselves to do. I honestly don't know what we'd have done without you all those years, and even now, you keep saving my stupid ass. So thank you."

Esk shrugged. "No problem. " He looked away and swigged the bottle.

"Seriously Esk, you're a damn hero whether you want to be or not and i'm so crazy proud to call you my brother."

"Oh don't start getting sentimental, it's gross." Esk complained.

"Too late." Matt told him, glad for the distraction. He pulled another bottle out of nowhere and opened that too. "Here's to the greater good and all that crap" He held up the bottle, looking gloomy.

Esk clinked his bottle against it. "And to never speaking of this again."

Matt nodded grimly "Good plan."

James would lead Shane and Kaliyani to find one of the Starrs and the vampire-healers.

~~
Asher would eventually finish fixing up Vestia and head back toward the maintenance cabinets to put everything away.

~~
Ellie was... somewhere... growing bean plants all over a hall. Quality life choices, as usual.

~~
Ethan was in a sparring room, aggressively beating up a punching bag. It made his hands hurt, but Kaylr kept trying to slide back into his head and the pain kept him at bay.
Tala was also in the sparring room with a punching bag.
They were doing a good job destroying the things at a worrying rate.

Prime Starr had ended up with Mirror Starr on the bridge while the carpathians were up in the lab still.

Esk and Matt found a room to sit and drink and totally not talk about anything of any importance. Because that was how they dealt with stuff right? By just not talking about it.

---

Kay worriedly waited for news of what had happened and what was going on. Nobody had been dragged in for healing so he had to assume nobody was hurt.... hopefully.

---

Armin started work on another dress.

---

Mourn and Luka were sparring with swords, because somehow they'd worked out they both knew how to fence and had decided that was a good use of their time.
She was impressed how good he was considering he was one armed and teeny. He fought dirty.

"Vestia, can you tell the Carpathians to come over here?" James asked. He smiled at the Starrs, "Uh hey guys, we need your help with something."

~~
Vestia would ask the Carpathians to come over.

~~
After a bit, Ethan went to watch Luka and Mourn fight. Hey, he was curious! And he was tired of his hands hurting.

Starr smiled softly at James as they turned to him. Both seemed a bit quiet now, but weren't opposed to a meeting

Andre and Sawna would head for the bridge to meet up with the others.

Kaliyani kept her head lowered, waiting quietly and anxiously.

--

Mourn was a dirty vicious fighter, he clawed, he kicked, he smacked Luka in the face with the pommel of his sword. She on the other hand fought in a far more regimented manner, a lot of structure and finesse, very rigid and clearly taught rather than sword fighting learned from bitter hard experience.
Still, she had a height advantage and was managing to hold her own against the crazy spitting Felid.
Least till he disarmed her and held his claws to her throat.

"Okay okay, I submit!" Luka raised both hands in surrender.

Mourn cackled and picked up her sword, handing it back to her.
"You fight like nobleman." He told her. "Not fighter. "

"You fight mean." Luka told him, rubbing her scratched face.

Mourn grinned. "Use whole body, not just blade. Use fist, use head, use feet. Headbutt, trip, punch.. Sword not only weapon, it extension, tool, no forget rest of self. " He glanced to Ethan. "We audience now. Again! This time, use body!" Mourn instructed.

Luka nodded and took up position again.

they started another round.

It didn't take the Carpathians long to arrive at the bridge. They paused when thy came in with so many there "Hello again"

Kaliyani tensed a little at those two, not them again.
She averted her gaze.

James looked around at the now-gathered group nervously. Now he was the spokesperson for the Kevali and Kalvair people. Okay. No pressure.
"Okay," he said, "Well to prevent a war, Web had to abruptly disappear. Now he's disappeared. So we have to get Kaliyani home so she can help the heir to rule until he's old enough. I think." He looked stressed.

~~
Ethan grinned. Oh yes, this was fun to watch. "You can get him, Luka!" he called.

Starr nodded and looked to James then at Kaliyani. "You are going to take care of the heir and raise him until he is old enough to rule. That will do well to prevent unnecessary deaths in a war."

Andre and Sawna were quiet, not seeing why they were called yet.

Kaliyani managed a soft smile to James. "Fate has chosen a new emissary... The Ishvara and Kanistha are gone. I do not believe the Elders will question this... so long as Fate makes her will known."  She glanced to Starr and Starr warily. "We... cannot have a war. I... I will do all I can to keep the heir safe." She bowed her head.